Student: Le Thi Hong Gam
Registered University: Can Tho University

Project objectives
The project aims to examine the interactions of nitrite in elevated temperature and hypercapnic environment to an air-breathing clown knifefish for understanding the effects of nitrite, temperature and hypercapnia on physiological functions and growth on this species. 
The research will provide basic knowledge about effects and adaptation mechanisms in exposures of nitrite, temperature and hypercapnia on physiological, biochemical processes and growth on clown knifefish.

Project description/activities
There are four main parts in the project as follows: (1) effects of nitrite on physiological parameters and growth on clown knifefish; (2) combined effects of nitrite and hypercapnia on small-size and large-size clown knifefish; (3) effects of different levels of temperature on physiological parameters on small-size and large-size clown knifefish; and (4) effects of nitrite at different levels of temperature on physiological parameters and growth on clown knifefish

Publications
1) Damsgaard, C., Gam, L.T.H., Tuong, D.D., Thinh, P.V., Huong, D.T.T., Wang, T., Bayley, M., 2015. High capacity for extracellular acid-base regulation in the air-breathing fish Pangasianodon hypophthalmus. J. Exp. Biol. 218, 1290-1294.
2) Hvas, M., Damsgaard, C., Gam, L.T.H., Huong, D.T.T., Jensen, F.B., & Bayley, M. (2016). The effect of environmental hypercapnia and size on nitrite toxicity in the striped catfish Pangasianodon hypophthalmus. Aquatic Toxicology, 176 (July), 151–160.
3) Gam, L.T.H., Jensen, F.B., Damsgaard, C., Huong, D.T.T., Phuong, N.T., Bayley, M., 2017. Extreme nitrite tolerance in the clown knifefish Chitala ornata is linked to up-regulation of methaemoglobin reductase activity. Aquat. Toxicol. 187, 9–17.

Conferences attended
1) Ma Thanh Quoc Tri, Nguyen Thanh Phuong, Do Thi Thanh Phuong, Nguyen Quoc Thinh, Le Thi Hong Gam. Effects of nitrite on haematological parameters of clown knifefish (Chitala ornata). The International Fisheries Symposium “Towards Sustainability, Advanced Technology and Community Enhancement”, Malaysia, Nov. 24-27th, 2015. (Oral presentation)
2) Le Thi Hong Gam, Nguyen Thi Thuy Vu, Do Thi Thanh Huong, Mark Bayley and Nguyen Thanh Phuong. Effects of nitrite toxicity on physiological processes and growth in clown knifefish Chitala ornata. The International Symposium “Aquatic Products Processing: Clearner Production Chain for Healthier Food”. Can Tho, Dec 7-9th, 2015. (Poster presentation)
3) Nguyen Thanh Phuong, Le Thi Hong Gam, Frank Bo Jensen, Christian Damsgaard, Tobias Wang, Do Thi Thanh Huong, Mark Bayley. Tolerance to nitrite exposure by detoxification to nitrate and up-regulation of erythrocyte methemoglobin reductase in an air-breathing fish, Chitala ornata. The 12th International Congress on the Biology of Fish. Jun 12-16th, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas. (Poster presentation)
4) Nguyen Thanh Phuong, Le Thi Hong Gam, Frank Bo Jensen, Malthe Hvas, Tobias Wang, Do Thi Thanh Huong, Mark Bayley. The combined effect of nitrite and hypercapnia on acid-base regulation and branchial ion exchange in an air-breathing fish, Chitala ornata. The 12th International Congress on the Biology of Fish. Jun 12-16th, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas. (Poster presentation)
5) Le Thi Hong Gam, Le My Phuong, Frank Bo Jensen, Tobias Wang, Do Thi Thanh Huong, Nguyen Thanh Phuong and Mark Bayley. The combed effects of nitrite and hypercapnia on acid-base regulation and branchial ion exchange in the air-breathing clown knifefish, Chitala ornata. The 7th National Fisheries Science Conference. Research Institute for Aquaculture No. 2, Ho Chi Minh City, Sep 16th, 2016. (Oral presentation)
6) Le Thi Hong Gam, Frank Bo Jensen, Christian Damsgaard, Tobias Wang, Do Thi Thanh Huong, Nguyen Thanh Phuong and Mark Bayley. Effects of nitrite toxicity on physiological processes and growth in clown knifefish Chitala ornata. The International Fisheries Symposium “Promoting Healthier Aquaculture and Fisheries for Food Safety and Security”. Phu Quoc, Oct 31st – Nov 2nd, 2016 (Poster presentation)
7) Le Thi Hong Gam, Tran Trong Nhan, Do Thi Thanh Huong, Mark Bayley and Nguyen Thanh Phuong. Effects of nitrite at different levels of temperature on physiological parameters of clown knifefish Chitala ornata. The 8th National Fisheries Science Conference. International University, Ho Chi Minh City, Jun 28th, 2017. (Oral presentation)
8) Phan Vinh Thinh, Le Thi Hong Gam, Christian Damsgaard, Do Thi Thanh Huong, Mark Bayley, Tobias Wang. The effectsof hypercapnia on acid-base regulation of swamp eel (Monopterus albus). The 8th National Fisheries Science Conference. International University, Ho Chi Minh City, Jun 28th, 2017. (Oral presentation)

Training courses attended
1) International PhD course on Physiology of Air-Breathing Fish in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam: Basic, Applied and Conservation. Can Tho University, Dec. 2014.
2) International PhD course on stereology. Phu Quoc island. Aug. 2015.
3) International PhD course on acid-base and ion regulation in hypercapnic world. Can Tho University. Dec 2016.